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WATER GAGE NQ- 394'870 Patented Deo. 18, 1888 y @wwe/wm,

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NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED L. MCGAHAN, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

WATER-GAG E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 894,870, dated December 18, 1888.

Application filed August 15, 1888. Serial No. 282,784. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED L. M CGAHAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in \Vater-Gages, Of which the following` is a specitieation.

My invention relates to an improvement i.n that class ot' water-gages for steam-boilers in which a glass tube is mounted outside the boiler and connected at both ends with the interior Ojf the boiler.

The objects Ot' my improvement are tO permit the removal of the glass tube without disturbing the boiler-eounections, tO permit the use of glass tubes of different lengths, and to provide improved means 'for holding the adjustable parts in position.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure l represents a side elevation. Fig. L represents a central longitudinal section. Fig. 3 represents a transverse section at c, Fig. l.

A and B are hollow castings constituting tubular quarter-turn fittings adapted tO be screwed into the shell of the boiler, one above and the other below the water-line, arranged with their opposed open ends turned toward each other. Each of said fittings s provided with a suitable stop-cock, as at l; and c, whereby communieation with the interior ot' the boiler may be cut off. The open Outer end of fitting B is adapted to receive and support one end Otl the glass tube U, and is screwthreaded on the outside and provided with the usual stuffing-box, D, thrtmgh which the glass tube passes.

The outer open end of fitting A is screwthreaded, and is provided with a sliding coupling consisting of the stuliing-box E and a short metallic tube, F, adapted to slide longitudinally in stuffing box E. Tube F is adapted at its outer end to receive and support One end of the glass tube C, and is provided with a stu [ting-box, G, through which the glass tube passes.

For the purpose of cleaning out fittings A and B they are each provided at the bend with a removable plug, p.

H is a bracket, which is adj ustably secured On the 'ti ttingA, preferably by threading it, so

as tO fit the threaded portion 'i of the iitting. The lower part of bracket I-lterminates in a split bearing, J, through which tube F slides, said bearing being adapted to clamp the tube by means of a screw, 7o', and to thus hold the tube in a fixed relation tO the tting A.

The upper part Ot bracket. H is perforated to receive the upper ends of the guard-rods g g, the lower ends of which rest in a suitable support on the lower itting, B.

In Operation, the glass tube C having been cut to a suitable length, tube F is pushed as far as possible into its supporti11g-fitting A. Fittings A and B are now screwed into the boiler-front, one above and the other below the water-line, at such a distance apart that the ends of tube C will pass easily between them. Tube C, carrying the stutiing-boxes Gand D, is now inserted in the Open end Of fitting' B, and the Open end of. tube F is then drawn down over the other end of tube C, and is then clamped rigidly in position, so as to prevent any strong pressure On the ends Of the glass tube by tightening screw 7b', and thus closingI bearing J. The stuffing-boxes are now packed and screwed in place and a tight tubular connection 'is formed between the fittings A and B. Heretofore, when it has been necessary to remove the glass tube for cleaning Or Vother purposes, it has been necessary to carefully turn the connectionsA and B from each Other,whieh operation is quite liable to break the glass and to cause a leak at the point where the connections enter the boiler, These (lit'liculties are overcome by the use of my device, it only being necessary to release clamp J and slide tube F inward tO release the glass, and if a short piece should be broken Off from the glass tube it may still be used-by drawing tube F farther outward.

I claim as my invention- In a water-gage, the combination Of fittings A and B, glass tube C,sliding tube F, having one end adapted tO receive the end of the glass tube, stuffing-box E, bracket Il, and the clamp J, all arranged to eO-Oper'ate substantially as specified.

FRED L. MCGAHAN.

Iitnessesz A. M. HOOD, H. l. HOOD, 

